MIAMI: GUARDS: DWYANE WADE will continue to take a smaller role during the regular season, as the Heat try desperately to keep him fresh for the playoffs. He's attacking the rim far less than he used to . . . MARIO CHALMERS will continue to start, playing off the ball more than any other point guard . . . RAY ALLEN will once again serve as sixth man, providing long-range shooting off the bench. He didn't start a single game last year, and at age 38, he'll rarely play full-time minutes as Miami looks toward the postseason . . . NORRIS COLE continues to inch up on Chalmers' starting role, improving nicely between his first and second seasons. But as long as Chalmers is the superior shooter, Cole will play behind him. FORWARDS: LEBRON JAMES is the best player in the league by a wide margin. There's no reason he shouldn't win his third straight MVP award . . . SHANE BATTIER is back as a glue guy, flopper and corner-three shooter. He'll play part-time minutes, often coming off the bench . . . UDONIS HASLEM will likely start, but he rarely stays on the floor for even half of a game. The Heat will continue to rotate big men alongside Chris Bosh . . . MICHAEL BEASLEY provides this team with an athlete who can put the ball in the basket coming off the bench. He must prove he can stay focused and out of trouble . . . RASHARD LEWIS may step into a slightly bigger role now that Mike Miller is gone. His troublesome knees won't allow him to play a lot of minutes, but he still shoots it well enough to help for a few minutes a night . . . JAMES JONES might have to do more than enjoy a courtside seat now that Miller is gone. CENTERS: CHRIS BOSH plays center in the Heat's small-ball lineup. He'll do his thing in the high post, and he's one of Miami's rotating rim protectors . . . CHRIS ANDERSEN did enough last postseason to earn a part-time role this year . . . The Heat hope GREG ODEN and Birdman will stagger their injuries. Oden should be part of a rotation alongside Bosh . . . JOEL ANTHONY is a half-step above team mascot.

MILWAUKEE: GUARDS: BRANDON KNIGHT slides into Brandon Jennings' point guard slot, but he's a much different player. Knight hasn't proven capable of running the point, and may eventually settle in as an undersized shooter . . . O.J. MAYO will be the focal point of this offense. He should build on his career-best year in Dallas . . . GARY NEAL will give them some instant offense as a sixth man . . . LUKE RIDNOUR provides Knight insurance, and the ability to play either guard spot. He should fit nicely alongside Mayo for stretches . . . KHRIS MIDDLETON could crack the rotation as a capable defender with upside as a shooter . . . Second-rounder NATE WOLTERS must knock down jumpers if he's going to get off the bench. FORWARDS: ERSAN ILYASOVA will once again have to earn his starter's minutes, as the Bucks have loaded up on quality frontcourt depth. He provides more offense than anyone else on the front line . . . CARON BUTLER should start at small forward for this team after freeing himself before ever having to play in Phoenix . . . CARLOS DELFINO will play a key role scoring off the bench. He's a streaky long-range gunner, but defends well enough to stay on the court . . . JOHN HENSON is on the verge of a breakout as an elite rebounder and shot-blocker. He's still a bit behind offensively, which could hold him back in a crowded post rotation . . . GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO was the most intriguing project in a weak draft, but the teenager is nowhere near ready for NBA action. He'll likely see time in the D-League until the second half of the season. CENTERS: We've loved LARRY SANDERS for years, and last year showed why. He's a Defensive POY candidate with a budding offensive game . . . ZAZA PACHULIA reunites with head coach Larry Drew as muscle off the bench . . . EKPE UDOH is likely on the outside looking in for this rotation.

It's hard to believe that the Miami Heat met the league-worst Milwaukee Bucks in last year's playoffs.

It's also difficult to determine who will be on the court for either team Saturday night.

The Heat will return to Milwaukee for the first time since last season's first-round sweep, with injuries about the only thing these teams have in common.

Miami's 2013 postseason began with a lopsided series in which it beat Milwaukee by an average of 14.7 points.

None of the top eight scorers for Milwaukee (14-58) in that series are available now. The Heat (49-22) cruised to a 118-95 home victory Nov. 12 in the first meeting since that mismatch, but it's possible only two Bucks starters from that game may see action Saturday.

Who the Heat will be able to use is also in doubt after LeBron James had his first triple-double of the season and 37th of his career in a 110-78 rout at Detroit on Friday. James had 17 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds.

"That thing has been pretty elusive, hasn't it?" James asked. "I'm just glad it came in a win. That is the important thing about getting those. It is only special if you win the game."

Dwyane Wade sat out with a right hamstring injury that flared up in Wednesday's 84-83 loss at Indiana. He is day to day.

"It didn't loosen up and I was still feeling pain in it," Wade said. "It isn't even that I don't want to push it. I can't."

Wade has played in 51 of 71 games this season, sitting out many by design because the two-time defending NBA champions want to rest his sore knees to make sure he's ready for the playoffs. Wade said his hamstring injury isn't as serious as one he had in the past.

Heat guard Mario Chalmers is also day to day after he was out against the Pistons because of an injured right quadriceps.

Ray Allen missed his second straight game due to the flu and Greg Oden was inactive. Coach Erik Spoelstra said he wanted to rest Oden's back.

"At this point, there's somebody out every night," James lamented.

Milwaukee ended an eight-game skid with Thursday's 108-105 home victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, but lost another player. Promising rookie Giannis Antetokounmpo is doubtful after he hurt his left ankle midway through the fourth quarter.

"It really puts us at a kind of a tough predicament because he and the kid we signed on a 10-day (contract), D.J. Stephens, were our two perimeters coming off the bench so hopefully he'll be OK," coach Larry Drew said.

The short-handed Bucks have already lost Larry Sanders and Ersan Ilyasova for the season, with the other three starters from last year's playoffs on other teams. In addition, guard O.J. Mayo sat out Thursday with a sprained ankle.

The scoring load shifts to Miami-born Brandon Knight, who scored 30 points against the Lakers after totaling 15 in his previous two efforts. The Bucks turned in their third-highest shooting effort of the season at 55.7 percent.